I can understand the interest in Andy Kershaw's position, for the reasons Howard's given. But, for what it's worth, I'm with Ted on this one. Humans are only human, stuff happens... The media coverage doesn't help anyone (except, of course, the media).

Well, when you put it like that, I'm with Ted too, Gordon. But my point was we, here, are not the media - we have access to this information which is of interest for reasons other than the prurient ones we all probably find distasteful, so I don't think we should beat ourselves up about it.

Yes, to all that, but I'm very sorry that AK is having such a hard time. If you'll excuse my language: poor fucker. That's a tough break. Love makes fools of us all, and so does booze. In combination - ferget it.

He gave my sometime boss Errol Linton a lot of exposure in the 90s and has always been a good egg as as far as I'm concerned.

Ali wrote:Time to give Charlie, who is a far superior broadcaster with much better taste in music, the Monday slot permanently.

Couldn't agree with you more, Ali

It's a mighty fine thing to have Charlie back on the radio for more than 26 mins at a time. Even if the weekly slot isn't available permanently, two programmes each month is still an absolute listening pleasure.

Can anyone suggest a collective way we might be able to convey this message to Roger Wright and Radio 3?

You can hear Charlie on Radio 3 via this link http://tinyurl.com/3yfc96 - this week there's a couple of minutes of the previous programme to get through before Humph arrives

Hopefully - the start of a return.
In this series John Humphrys talks to people who have been in the spotlight
and have gone through hard times.
Past appearances from very well known names include: Linford Christie,
Charles Clarke, Jonathan Aitkin and Hans Blix.

On the Ropes
On: BBC Radio Four
Date: Tuesday 28th April 2009 (starting in 9 days)
Time: 09:00 to 09:30 (30 minutes long)

John Humphrys talks to successful people who have weathered storms in their careers. Andy Kershaw talks about rebuilding his life and career after
losing his BBC radio show and spending time in prison for breaking a
restraining order. Andy has enjoyed a highly successful broadcasting career, winning a brace of Sony Radio awards and receiving critical acclaim for his reports from Rwanda, Angola, Haiti and Iraq

Hopefully - the start of a return.In this series John Humphrys talks to people who have been in the spotlightand have gone through hard times.Past appearances from very well known names include: Linford Christie,Charles Clarke, Jonathan Aitkin and Hans Blix.

On the RopesOn: BBC Radio FourDate: Tuesday 28th April 2009 (starting in 9 days)Time: 09:00 to 09:30 (30 minutes long)

John Humphrys talks to successful people who have weathered storms in their careers. Andy Kershaw talks about rebuilding his life and career afterlosing his BBC radio show and spending time in prison for breaking arestraining order. Andy has enjoyed a highly successful broadcasting career, winning a brace of Sony Radio awards and receiving critical acclaim for his reports from Rwanda, Angola, Haiti and Iraq

After his last Radio Four appearance, Kershaw was likened to David Brent. I do hope this programme doesn't find him driving up and down the Thames corridor trying to sell office cleaning equipment out of the back of a Ford Focus.

Seriously, would be great to hear him back on the waves, as a music broadcasting complement to the World on 3 crew and weaving in background reportage from far-flung places like the old days.